Pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk is edging closer to finalising his highly-anticipated return to the ring.
The 39-year-old from Ukraine was last in action back in July when he stopped Britain’s Daniel Dubois in the 5th round of their historic showdown at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
Usyk landed a thunderous right hand on Dubois to become the first fighter of the modern era to win the undisputed heavyweight championship on two separate occasions, a feat he originally achieved back in May 2024 when he defeated Tyson Fury.
After it was speculated that the Ukrainian icon was considering retirement, the two-weight undisputed champion has announced that he intends to continue with his professional career and will return to the ring in 2026.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Usyk revealed that he is in preparations for his long-awaited return and revealed he is open to facing Tyson Fury for a third time.
“Maybe March, I’m back in the ring. [Opponent]? I don’t know. We prepare about this. Yes, I want fight with Tyson Fury, no problem. Saudi Arabia, USA, doesn’t matter.”
Usyk holds two victories over ‘The Gypsy King’ as it stands, the first of which came in May of 2024 when the Ukrainian became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of ‘the four belt era’.
Their rematch took place just seven months later and it was Usyk who prevailed once again, handing Fury the second defeat of his professional career in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fury has expressed his disappointment at not being declared the winner in both of his clashes with Usyk and has openly expressed that he would be interested in facing his former rival once again in the future.
